madly
gb/mˈædli/ us/mˈædli/
B2
Inglese
~ 8700
Accezioni
0 accezioni
adverb
B2
property
1
very; extremely (informal intensifier)
Used before adjectives or adverbs to mean “very” or “extremely,” especially with feelings like love or jealousy.
Schema d'uso:
madly [adjective/adverb]
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes think “madly” means “angrily” because in some varieties of English “mad” can mean “angry.” However, “madly” almost always means “very” or “in a wild way,” not “angrily.” Another common mistake is using it in formal writing where a neutral adverb like “extremely” or “highly” would be more appropriate. Word order can also be an issue: in natural English, “madly” usually comes before the adjective (e.g., “madly jealous,” not “jealous madly”).
Sinonimi
extremely (More neutral and common in both spoken and written English; lacks the emotional or dramatic tone that “madly” can have.)
|
very (Weaker and more general; “madly” usually sounds stronger and more emotional.)
|
desperately (Often used specifically about strong need or love; “madly” is similar but slightly less dramatic and more informal.)
Contrari
slightly (Shows a small degree, which contrasts with the very strong degree implied by “madly.”)
|
a little (Informal phrase for a small amount, the opposite of the strong intensity in “madly.”)
Collocazioni
madly in love
|madly jealous
|madly popular
|madly busy
|love [someone] madly
|fall madly in love
Temi
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- They are madly in love and talk for hours every night.
- I was madly jealous of her sudden success.
- The series became madly popular after it appeared on a streaming platform.
- She is madly busy this week before the product launch.
Esempi per chi studia
- He is madly in love with his new girlfriend.
- The game is madly popular with teenagers.
- I was madly tired after the long flight.
- She worked madly hard to finish the project.
unknown
C1
property
2
in a wild, uncontrolled way
In a wild or not controlled way, often very fast or with too much emotion.
Schema d'uso:
[someone] [verb] madly
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with “angrily,” but “madly” almost never means “angrily.” It is also easy to mix this with the intensifier sense and say things like “I am madly” without an adjective or verb, which sounds incomplete. You should either use it before an adjective (“madly busy”) or after a verb (“run madly”).
Sinonimi
wildly (Very close in meaning; “wildly” is slightly more common and a bit more neutral in tone.)
|
frantically (Adds a sense of panic or urgent worry; “madly” can be more about general lack of control or excitement.)
|
recklessly (Focuses on carelessness and risk; “madly” can suggest this but also simple wild energy or emotion.)
Contrari
calmly (Describes doing something in a quiet, controlled way, which is the opposite of the wild manner of “madly.”)
|
carefully (Emphasizes attention and control, contrasting with the lack of control in “madly.”)
Collocazioni
drive madly
|run madly
|laugh madly
|wave madly
|spend money madly
|search madly
Temi
movement
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- She waved madly at us from the train window.
- He drove madly through the narrow streets, ignoring the speed limit.
- Fans screamed madly when the band walked onto the stage.
- They spent money madly on designer clothes they did not need.
Esempi per chi studia
- The children ran madly around the park.
- He looked madly for his lost keys.
- People shouted madly when the team scored the winning goal.
- She laughed madly at his joke, even though it was not very funny.
adverb
literary
C2
property
3
in a way suggesting insanity
In a way that seems like a person has very serious mental problems and is not thinking clearly.
Schema d'uso:
[someone] [verb] madly
Errore comune:
This meaning is less common and can be offensive if used about real people with mental health problems. Learners should avoid using “madly” or “mad” to describe someone’s medical condition and instead say things like “has a mental illness” or “has mental health problems.” In many cases, what learners really need is the more neutral sense of wild behavior or the simple intensifier meaning.
Sinonimi
insanely (Very close in meaning; both can sound offensive if used about real people, and “insanely” is also widely used as an intensifier.)
Contrari
sanely (Describes thinking or acting in a normal and reasonable way, the opposite of seeming mentally ill or irrational.)
|
rationally (Focuses on clear, logical thinking, contrasting with the disturbed or irrational behavior implied by “madly.”)
Collocazioni
stare madly
|grin madly
|laugh madly to himself
|talk madly
|smile madly
Temi
literature
|emotions
|health
Esempi
- He stared madly at the wall, mumbling to himself.
- The villain laughed madly as the castle burned around him.
- In the novel, she paces the room, talking madly to people who are not there.
Esempi per chi studia
- The man laughed madly and would not stop.
- In the story, the king talks madly to people who are not there.
- The character in the film smiles madly, and it makes the audience feel afraid.
Grammatica
Forma base
madly
IPA
GB/mˈædli/
US/mˈædli/
Sillabe e accento
madly (1 sillaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (madly)
Forme flesse
Noun
- Base: madly
- Plural: madlies
Famiglia di parole
Espressioni
fall madly in love
1/fˈɔl mˈædli ˈɪn lˈʌv/
fixed phrase
begin to love someone very strongly
To start to love someone very strongly, often quickly and with a lot of emotion.
Esempi
- He fell madly in love with her the first time they met.
- Many people fall madly in love at university and later marry their partners.
- I never expected to fall madly in love again after my divorce.
madly in love
1/mˈædli ˈɪn lˈʌv/
fixed phrase
very deeply in romantic love
To love someone very, very strongly in a romantic way.
Esempi
- After only a few weeks, they were madly in love.
- She is still madly in love with her husband after thirty years.
- As a teenager, I was madly in love with a rock singer.